Today I learned that in the first episode / chapter of the series, the guy who gets killed by the White Walkers was Lord Royce's son:

Reddit comments:

One of my favorite numbers for the show's casualties is: 16. That's the number of named characters alive and appearing in the first episode of the series who are dead by this point (4.08) in the show. 16. Just from the first episode! 20 if you count the 2 dead direwolves, Dany's dead horse Silver, and the already-dead-at-episode's-start Jon Arryn, who appears as a corpse at his funeral.

The 16 1.01 named characters who have died by 4.08: Lord Eddard Stark, King Robb Stark, Lady Catelyn Stark, Ser Rodrik Cassel, Jory Cassel, Maester Luwin, Septa Mordane, King Robert Baratheon, King Joffrey Baratheon, Khal Drogo, Viserys Targaryen, Qotho, Ros, Ser Waymar Royce, Will, and Gared.

Edit: A couple of people seem to be missing what this stat is saying; once again...these are named characters who are dead by 4.08 who were alive AND appearing in the series premiere, 1.01 "Winter is Coming". 16 characters from thefirst episode are dead by 4.08. The number of named characters total who have died in the series up to 4.08 is over 50.

...

Well, let's see. Named characters, alive and appearing in 1.01, who are still alive:

Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Sansa Stark, Bran Stark, Rickon Stark, Hodor, Theon Greyjoy, Daenerys Targaryen, Ser Jorah Mormont, Illyrio Mopatis, Tyrion Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Sandor 'The Hound' Clegane, Tommen Baratheon, Myrcella Baratheon...with one undetermined life/death status in MIA Benjen Stark.

So named characters appearing in 1.01 who we know 100% are alive during the events of 4.08: 16. Benjen's status would shift it one way or the other, but otherwise we are at that 50/50 ratio.

Adding in the direwolves (which I did, along with Jon Arryn and Silver in my above post) brings it up to 20, so still 50/50.

More Reddit comments:

http://reddit.com/r/gameofthrones/comments/273sov/s4e8_an_awesome_little_detail_show_watchers_might/

More Game of Thrones S4E8:

http://pandawhale.com/post/44839/game-of-thrones-season-4-episode-8-the-mountain-and-the-viper-gifs-and-memes